Life-boats

ABSTRACT

A life-boat having a closed smooth hull of circular crosssection and substantially elliptical longitudinal section, wherein the front and rear part of the hull are each surrounded by a freely rotatably mounted shell extending from the respective end of the hull towards the middle thereof, said shells having such a length that between the opposed inner ends thereof there is an intermediate exposed circumferential part of the hull suitable for the provision of the light and access to the hull.

United States Patent 1 1 1 Feb. 27, 1973 Hvoslef LIFE-BOATS [76] Inventor: Peer Hvoslef, Monolittveien l6,

Oslo, Norway [22] Filed: July 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 166,492

52 US. Cl. ..9/4 [51] Int. Cl. ..B63c 906 [58] Field of Search ..9/3, 4, 6, 8; 244/1; 272/1 B, 272/32; 46/91, 93

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,254 l2/I 94l Reilley ..9/4 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 562,221 5/1957 Italy ..9/4 R Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorney-Kurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT A life-boat having a closed smooth hull of circular cross-section and substantially elliptical longitudinal section, wherein the front and rear part of the hull are each surrounded by a freely rotatably mounted shell extending from the respective end of the hull towards the middle thereof, said shells having such a length that between the opposed inner ends thereof there is an intermediate exposed circumferential part of the hull suitable for the provision of the light and access to the hull.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LIFE-BOATS The present invention relates to improvements in life-boats of the kind having a closed hull and a substantial elliptical longitudinal section.

Vessels are already known of a type including a longitudinal bottom member such as a keel and upstanding end parts between which a hull or body of circular cross-section is secured and to which access is possible through said end parts, which also contain motor drive and other equipment. In order to diminish or eliminate rolling or pitching of the vessel, the hull or body thereof has been surrounded by a number of axially aligned and freely rotatable shell sections, possibly provided with fins, which are intended to absorb the action of the waves without transmitting it to the remainder of the vessel.

Vessels of the above type are, however expensive to produce, very heavy and complicated, occupy much space and at the same time involve difficulties in connection with launching and boarding.

The object of the present invention is to provide a life-boat of a simple and cheap construction with a hull having over its whole length a circular smooth surface about the longitudinal axis so that it is space saving and easy to operate under all conditions. According to the invention I provide a life-boat having a closed smooth hull of circular cross-section and substantially elliptical longitudinal section, wherein the front and rear part of the hull are each surrounded by a freely rotatably mounted shell extending from the respective end of the hull towards the middle thereof, saidshells having such a length that between the opposed inner ends thereof there is an intermediate exposed circumferential part of the hull suitable for the provision of light and access to the hull.

The stabilizing of the hull takes place in a manner known per se by means of regulatable ballast tanks.

Two preferred embodiments of the, invention by way of example will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a life-boat according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the line III III in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1 the life-boat includes a hull, designated generally by the numeral 1, of circular cross-section throughout and preferably tapered at its ends so that it has a substantially elliptical longitudinal section.

The front and rear part of the hull 1 are surrounded by externally smooth shells 2, each of which, from its outer end 3, which is a short distance from the end of the hull, extends towards the middle of the hull for a length such that between. the opposed inner ends 4 of said shells 2 there is an intermediate exposed circumferential part la of the hull which is available for placing of necessary equipment, for light and access to the hull 1.

Between each of the shells 2, which have a profile similar to that of the hull, and the outer surface of the hull there is an intermediate space 5 for mounting bearings 6 by means of which the shells 2 are supported in a freely rotatable manner on the hull but are prevented from axial ,movement thereon. These bearings 6 may be of any suitable type, such as sliding bearings including a ring-shaped member on the shell slideably mounted in a corresponding circumferential groove on the hull, ball bearings. roller bearings or other types of bearing know per se.

In the exposed circumferential part la there is an acess door 7 on one side and a window 8 on the other side. On the last named side and preferably adjacent the waterline V there is disposed the mouth 9 of a tube or channel 10 extending into the .hull and inclined inwardly and upwardly. The upper end of the tube 10 may be closed by a cover 1 1 (FIG. 3).

This arrangement makes it possible easily to move persons from the surface of the water and into the boat through said tube or channel 10.

A live-boat constructed in this manner would be relatively light and has a mainly smooth surface without projecting parts such as a keel portion or the like since the necessary stability is obtained by means of suitably regulatable ballast tanks 12.

In addition the hull at each end may be provided with fastenings or apertured guides 13 for securing or guiding anchor chains or lines 14 to which are secured anchors 15, preferably of the drogue type, serving to counteract longitudinal pitching of the hull, which anchors as they sink are folded together while they upon upward movement then open and thereby brake movement of the boat.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2 the exposed part la of the hull between the shells 2a is formed as a somewhat restricted cylindrical part towards which the adjoining hull parts are curved and when the adjacent end parts of the shells 2a are correspondingly curved this aids in preventing relative axial movement between said shells and the hull l. The shells are supported so as to be freely rotatable about the hull in the manner described above and the exposed part of the hull is provided with windows and access doors in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and 3.

When the above described life-boat is exposed to lateral sea the rolling action of the waves substantially along the whole length of the hull is absorbed by the rotatable shells as these, apart for the very short exposed part of the hull for access doors and the like enclose substantially the whole hull. At the same time the anchors 15 oppose longitudinal pitching of the boat.

What I claim is:

l. A life-boat having a closed smooth hull of circular cross-section and substantially elliptical longitudinal section, wherein the front and rear part of the hull are each surrounded by a freely rotatably mounted shell extending from the respective end of the hull towards the middle thereof, said shells having such a length that between the opposed inner end thereof there is an intermediate exposed. circumferential part of the hull suitable for the provision of light and access to the hull.

2. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the exposed circumferential part of the hull is a cylinrical portion of reduced diameter towards which the, adjoining parts of the hull are curved with correspondingly curved ends of the shells.

3. A life-boat according to claim 1 wherein at one side of the exposed circumferential part of the hull an access door is provided while at the other side adjacent the waterline the mouth of an inwardly and upwardly extending tube or channel closeable by means of a cover is disposed.

4. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the hull at each end is provided with means for fastening an anchor cable to each of which is secured an anchor preferably of the drogue type.

5. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the hull is provided with stabilizing ballast tanks. 

1. A life-boat having a closed smooth hull of circular crosssection and substantially elliptical longitudinal section, wherein the front and rear part of the hull are each surrounded by a freely rotatably mounted shell extending from the respective end of the hull towards the middle thereof, said shells having such a length that between the opposed inner end thereof there is an intermediate exposed circumferential part of the hull suitable for the provision of light and access to the hull.
 2. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the exposed circumferential part of the hull is a cylinrical portion of reduced diameter towards which the adjoining parts of the hull are curved with correspondingly curved ends of the shells.
 3. A life-boat according to claim 1 wherein at one side of the exposed circumferential part of the hull an access door is provided while at the other side adjacent the waterline the mouth of an inwardly and upwardly extending tube or channel closeable by means of a cover is disposed.
 4. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the hull at each end is provided with means for fastening an anchor cable to each of which is secured an anchor preferably of the drogue type.
 5. A life-boat according to claim 1, wherein the hull is provided with stabilizing ballast tanks. 